Weird Food

August 3, 2017

1 . Century eggs

Rest assured, these rather misleadingly-named eggs arent eggs which have been stored for 100 years; theyre preserved for just a few months. But thats still enough to turn the yolk dark green and the white brown.

2 . Fugu

There arent many meals which involve risking your life. One of Japans most notorious dishes is the fugu, or pufferfish, which can be lethal if its toxic parts are not correctly removed. Over 20 people have died in Japan after eating the fish since 2000.

3 . Fried spiders

The Cambodian delicacy of fried spider is something of an acquired taste. These little chaps are tarantulas, served with a lime and black pepper dip in the Phnom Penh restaurant Romdeng. According to Clive Graham-Rangers book with Luu Meng, Cambodias Top Tables, the restaurant serves over 200 a week.

4 . Witchetty grub

Probably high on the list of things not to tell your mother you did on your gap year is snacking on a witchetty grub, an Australian term for the large white larvae of several moths. They were traditionally foraged by Aboriginees.

5 . Shiokara

If you turned up your nose at liver as a child, youd better look away now. Shiokara is a Japanese dish made from marine animals such as squid which are fermented in their own viscera. Its no wonder that its often gulped down and followed by a shot of whiskey.

6 . Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are loaded with protein, and are a popular delicacy in many parts of the world. In Asia, youll find them fried and sold in street markets, while in Mexico, a type called chapulines are often served with lime and garlic. Last month, the Mexican chain Wahaca launched a grasshopper dish at one of its London branches.

7 . Sannakji

Fancy trying a live octopus? Sannakji is a traditional Korean dish of octopus cut into small pieces and served while the tentacles are still squirming. Unsuprisingly, it presents something of a choking hazard.

8 . Escamoles

We all know that tequila is a product of the tequila plant, or blue agave. But did you know that people also enjoy ant larvae which is harvested from the plants roots? Mexicans supposedly call this unusual snack “insect caviar.

9 . Beondegi

If larvae leave you hungry, why not try a few beondegi? These silkworm pupae are traditonally served as a snack in Korea.

10 . Tong zi dan

Perhaps one of the most eyebrow-raising foods the world has to offer is the Chinese deliacy tong zi dan, or virgin boy eggs. Every spring in the city of Dongyang, eggs are boiled in the urine of young schoolboys.